Piano-fall and music-desk



(No Model.)

F. A. CLARKE.

PIANO FALL AND MUSIC DESK.

Patented Dec. 13,1881.

FIEQ.

N. PUEFE. PhMmLnho n-whcr, Washington. DV 0.

INYENTEIR.

7! (/li r/a/c Wyn 6L UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK A. CLARKE, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

PIANO-FALL AND MUSIC-DESK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 250,646, dated December 13, 1881. Application filed July 27, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK AsAHEL CLARKE, a citizen of the United States, and residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented a certain new and useful Piano-Fall and Music-Desk, of which the following is a specification.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a piano or an organ, showing my improved desk and fall. Fig. 2 is a vertical section in elevation with fall and desk closed. Fig. 3 is a vertical sec tion in elevation, with fall and desk in position. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are details.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

I construct my fall A in one piece and having the usual curvature. as shown, and in the ends thereof, at the points of greatest thickness, I make a slot, B, which extends upward to the edge of the fall. The base of these slots terminates at right angles to their planes, at which point a pin-hole, C, is made. These holes receive the pins D, which project from the sides of the piano-frame in the manner shown in detail views, Fig. 6. Through the medium of these slots, and when the fall is in position, a sufficient play is bad without binding of the parts.

Located above the fall is an adjustable bridge, E. It is provided with V-shaped slots E, made in the ends thereof for about twothirds its width, the uncut portion forming a stop for the V-shaped lugs F, attached to the sides of the frame, upon which this bridge rests. A cleat, G, is attached to the top of the bridge, and the front edge is beveled, as shown, so that when the fall is opened its face will rest against this beveled edge and be prevented from falling against the front of the piano or music-desk. The panel His also provided with pins I upon each end, which drop into the vertical slots 1 1 formed in the sides J of the frame, and a grooved cleat, K, is connected to the lower edge of the panel for holding the music or book.

. In practice the lower portion of the panel or leaf is made to swing forward on its pivotal points, and the an is folded back on its pivotal.

points against the beveled edge of the bridge, when the edge of the panel or desk is permitted to rest against the oval part of the fall to receive the music or book.

It will thus be seen that not only cheapness and durability are combined in my invention, but that great ease and facility in obtaining access to the mechanism of the piano are had.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, lS

In a piano or organ, the combination, with the adjustable bridge E, havingcleat G, and

provided with V-shaped grooves E, adapted to engage with lugs F on the side frame, of the fall A and panel or music desk H,respectivcly pivoted within the frame by means of slots and pins, whereby the music-desk rests in a vertical position upon the bridge when the instrument is closed, and in an inclined position against the face of the fall when opened, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 12th day of July, 1881.

FREDERICK A. CL ARKE.

Witnesses: O. W. M. SMITH,

CHAS. E. KELLY. 

